Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill on Monday that mandates California schools to limit or ban the use of smartphones, responding to mounting evidence that excessive screen time can exacerbate mental health issues and hinder academic performance.
This legislation comes as part of a broader movement, with 13 other states implementing similar restrictions on cellphone usage in educational settings this year. Florida initiated this trend in 2023 by prohibiting phones in classrooms, leading to a nationwide dialogue about the role of technology in education.
California, which is home to approximately 5.9 million public school students, is taking cues from its own Los Angeles County, where the school board enacted a smartphone ban for its 429,000 students in June. This initiative aligns with calls from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who recently advocated for warning labels on social media platforms, likening the issue to a public health emergency.
Murthy referenced a study published in the medical journal JAMA that found adolescents who engage with social media for more than three hours a day face an increased risk of mental illness. Additionally, a Gallup poll indicated that the average teenager spends around 4.8 hours daily on social media.
The California bill received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing with a 76-0 vote in the Assembly and a 38-1 vote in the Senate. It requires school boards and governing bodies to formulate a policy to restrict or prohibit smartphone use on campuses by July 1, 2026, with a mandate to review and update these policies every five years.
“This new law empowers us to take action against the negative impacts of excessive smartphone use, which is linked to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges,” Newsom stated. “By prioritizing academic focus and social development, we can help students engage more with the world around them rather than their screens during school hours.”
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